Eleven years from first coalition PDK-LDK

On January 9th 2008, the coalition government between the Democratic Party of Kosovo and the Democratic League of Kosovo has been formed with Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

The government was made up of the prime minister two deputy prime minister and 17 ministers. The government was formed after the November 17th 2007 elections, where the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) has won 34% of the vote, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has received 23% of the vote, the New Kosovo Alliance (AKR) 12% and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Democratic League of Dardania (LDD) have won from 10%, the Reformist Party (ORA) 4% and the Justice Party <6> 2%.

The 13 minority parties have won a total of 5% of the vote. The government was focused on independence and the constitution, while political leaders have respected their commitment to remain united in the period between the declaration of independence and the enforcement of the constitution. Their attention has begun to shift when the government introduced strategy for 2008-2011 in April.

Opposition political parties had more critical attitudes towards the government. The government had established a commission for monitoring law enforcement, which was led by the deputy prime minister. In April, the prime minister presented before the Parliament the 100-day government and government programme for 2008-2011, while in July 2008, the government has begun to issue Kosovo passports. In September, the president and prime minister agreed to appoint the first ten diplomatic representatives in some of the countries to have recognised Kosovo's declaration of independence. According to the 2008 Progress Report, local governance was strengthened to some extent. In June new legislation on municipal administrative borders, local self-government and local government finances and decentralisation was enacted. Progress of reform for self-government and increasing administrative capacity to facilitate decentralisation were the main priorities in the European Partnership for Kosovo.

However, the government's focus on independence-related issues has kept it away from addressing other issues. The government had faced some difficulties in presenting and co-ordinating its strategic priorities. The Assembly, including members of the ruling coalition, have rejected the government's 2008-2011 programme. In some Serb majority areas, the government had limited authority in the police, courts, customs, transport, borders and Serbian heritage. parallel administrative structures at the local level have been consolidated and continue to operate in most Serb majority municipalities, even if they are not operational in some areas like the south of the Iber River.

The municipalities in northern Kosovo were beginning to implement Serbian local government legislation. A number of Kosovo citizens rely on their services, such as travel documents, education. In June, the government has decided to extend the mandate of chairmans in Leposaviq, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, Shtrpce, confirming UNMIK's earlier decision not to validate the results of Serbian local elections, held in May 2008 in Kosovo. Slow reconfiguration UNMIK has led to some uncertainty in some areas such as government competencies (the collection of the Kosovo Trust Agency). The effectiveness of government participation in regional and international forums is limited by the fact that its legitimacy is opposed by countries that have not recognised it. Declarations of political interference in the selection and appointment of a number of important positions (public companies' debts) have affected the government's credibility, the report said. The report further notes that early announcements of population registration and early surrender to the mid-year budget review framework conflict with the constitution's provisions.

However, on February 17th 2008, Kosovo lawmakers would carry out a historic act of great vital importance to the country's fates; signed and solemnly adopted the Declaration of Independence. This date undoubtedly marks one of the most valuable days in state history.